Huntingdon knocks off USA South West Division leader Covenant

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon men's basketball team knocked off USA South West Division frontrunner Covenant College 72-71 on Saturday night.

The Hawks hit 6-of-10 free throws in the final 33 seconds to earn the victory and even up their season record with the Scots. Covenant won the first meeting 79-77 on Dec. 7.

James Harris sank 2-of-4 free throws during two trips to the free-throw line to give Huntingdon a 68-64 lead with 30 seconds to play. After the Hawks missed two free throws, Covenant pulled within two points with 17 seconds left.

Damien Madison made it a 70-66 game with a pair of free throws, but Covenant answered with six seconds left to make it 70-68. With three seconds remaining, Madison sank two final free throws to seal the win before Covenant hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

This was Huntingdon's 12^th game of the season, and the eighth game out of the past nine, to be decided by five points or less.

With the win, the Hawks (9-9) are second in the West Division of the USA South with a 6-5 conference record. Covenant (10-7) leads the West Division with a 7-3 conference record.

Senior Aaron Washington sparked Huntingdon with 21 points on Saturday. Washington was 7-for-11 from the field, including 5-for-6 from 3-point range.

Madison had 15 points and five assists and was 11-for-12 from the free-throw line. Harris added nine points, six rebounds and three assists. Caleb Toney finished with eight points and six rebounds, Dylan Bohling had eight points and Mykel Woods had six rebounds.

Huntingdon played from behind for much of the first half, falling behind by nine points in the first seven minutes of the game. But the Hawks answered and took a 32-31 lead at halftime.

Huntingdon built a 14-point lead in the second half but could not put Covenant away. The Scots chipped away at the Hawks' lead and pulled within two points, 57-55, with 4:53 to play. Huntingdon led for the remainder of the game and carried a six-point lead into the final minute before sealing the game at the free-throw line.

Records: Huntingdon (9-9, 6-5 USA South); Covenant (10-7, 7-3 USA South)

Coming Up: Huntingdon plays at Maryville on Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. (Central).